1. Investing in Children –
Breaking the cycle of disadvantage
Influencing the Europe 2020 process
10 Solutions for
Smarter Outcomes
Dr Stuart Duffin

2. influences on practice I1
Climate of economic and social pressures- The Social Welfare (Misc Provision) Bill of 2010 and subsequent Bills and in particular Budget 2012 2
Prevention of long-term dependence on welfare 3
The need for parental choice with regard to care of young children 4
Expectation of participation in education, training and employment

3. influences on practice II1
IMF ranks Ireland as the 15th in the world by GDP per capita 2
Yet 32,000 children are at risk of poverty -18.8% of all children in Ireland EUSILC, 2011 3
2011 Census 215,315 one-parent families in Ireland
26% of all families with children
22% - almost 352,000 - of all children 4
SILC demonstrated one-parent households are the most deprived 56% classified as deprived

4. our work Ensuring a positive and equal future for all
Supporting families as they parent through times of family, work and life change
Delivering parent centred services
Helping to enable better lives for parents and children
10 Solutions for
Smarter Outcomes

5. drivers of practice 1
OECD, ‘Doing Better for Families’ 2011, Ireland has a long way to go if we are to meet international standards in parenting and family policy.
One Family promotes and communicates that:
Early childhood services is an investment in human capital, and should be protected from 'austerity cuts'.
Public support for childcare services should be linked to work-life balance policies
'A coherent policy approach for the early years would ensure that childcare, (parenting and family) services are available when leave benefits run out.'
Reducing child poverty requires a carefully designed policy-mix, including both income supports and the provision of services.
Quality of childcare is critical in child development

6. drivers of practice 2 Europe 20:20
overarching strategy driving EU economic, social and employment policy.
Influence national anti-poverty strategies and concrete policy measures on child poverty through National Reform Programmes (NRPs).
Stakeholder engagement, participation and involvement, including independent sector and whole of government are key actors in the development, delivery and evaluation.
Implementation of Recommendation on Child Poverty will be monitored through Europe 2020.
Country-Specific Recommendations can put pressure on national governments to take decisive action, based on the EU monitoring process, is comparative
Ensure tailored EU money for child poverty initiatives, EU2020 is a key criteria driving EU funding priorities through Structural and other Funds.

7. parenting alone challenges 1
Increased risk of poverty due to dependence on welfare and no spare financial capacity.
Tax and welfare traps coupled with transition costs in the system that deepen poverty and exclusion
Internal barriers linked to low confidence and self-esteem,
Access to high quality, flexible, affordable childcare.
Low educational attainment arising from early school leaving and relevance of qualifications and skills to current labour market requirements.

8. parenting alone challenges 2
Social isolation and lack of personal supports and networks
Access to transport to and from education, training and employment in both urban and rural areas
Access to affordable quality housing
Health challenges arising from stress, domestic violence, legal issues or a poor sense of general well-being.
Reconciling work and family life.

9. underpinning values going forward
Ensuring a positive and equal future for all members of one-parent families
Supporting families as they parent through times of family, work and life change- families in transition
Delivering family centred services
Helping to enable better lives for parents and children

10. support responses framework
Focused specialist family support for progression to education, skill development and employment
Provision of expert parenting and family support to those parenting alone or sharing parenting
Tailored Reponses

11. 10 Solutions for Smarter Outcomes
A range of activities targeted at policy formers and makers
Facilitate and promote solutions to the austerity measures
Address the cumulative impact of from 2010 and Budget 2012 to mitigate against and challenge adverse effects
centered around impact of those parenting alone and perceptions
interactive and integrated- joined-up thinking
developed through partnership and collaboration
learning and action based, in other words, oriented to helping people understand issues and then be able to act in ways that improve economic and social well being.
developed within a framework and through the creation of communication strategies which focus on needs of those parenting alone and their families.

12. role Increase knowledge Stimulate dialogue
Promote essential attitude change
Advocate for cost effective policy changes
Create a demand for information and services
Reduce stigma and discrimination
Promote services for prevention of persistent and consistent

13. framework
mobilisation
Partnership
Ten Solutions
political
insight

14. goals Solution focused Fully engage with the reform process
Be seen as an active and critical partner
Improved outcomes
Promote services and investment human capital
Create a demand for information
Stimulate community discussion
Reduce stigma and discrimination
Promote better practices
Change policy formers and makers attitudes and practices

15. Community networks and traditional media
process theory
Media local radio
Community networks and traditional media
One to one advocacy
and engagement
Stages of Change
Continuum
Enabling Factors
Channels
Effective
communication
Unaware
Aware
Concerned
Knowledgeable
Motivated to change
Sustained Impact
Proofing and cumulative impacts
Enabling
environment
Solution focused
innovative, creative
and entrepreneurial
commodities

16. getting people to talk about 10 Solutions for Smarter Outcomes
Partners
State and government
Unions
Umbrella organisations
Non-governmental organisations
Service providers
Networks
Channels
TV/Radio/Newspaper
Print materials
Outreach
Peer education
Community
Social networks
Social Media

17. Developing an Effective Strategy2.
Stakeholder Involvement 1.
Programme Goals 3.
Identify Target Audience 4.
Conduct
Assessment 5.
Segment Target Population 6.
Define Change Objectives
12.
Feedback and Revision 7.
Design longterm message
11.
Monitoring and Evaluation
8. Develop
Communications
Materials 9.
Talk about it
10.
Implement and Monitor

18. new ideas that create value delivering a climate for inspiration
“……….enterprise and innovation are the engines of growth in the social economy”

19. the actions Challenge -- doing things differently
Customer Focus -- creating value
Creativity – generate possibilities.
Communication -- open communication
Collaboration -- feed on interaction
Completion -- strong implementation
Contemplation -- gleaning the lessons

20. the mix facilitating and meeting needs
What is needed to deliver for stakeholders?
How do we ensure provision?
How to ensure quality of outcomes?
facilitating and meeting needs

21. drivers-entryways to inspiring practice
change
trends
ideas
passion
renewal
change
rejuvenation

22. 10 Solutions for
Smarter Outcomes
not a collection of different, isolated communication tactics
a framework of linked approaches that function as part of an on-going interactive process

23. 10 Solutions for Smarter Outcomes
Flexibilities
Wrap- around Child Care
Welfare to Work
New Futures
Progression opportunities
Education and Training
In Work Supports
Worklife Balance
Outcome Budgets
Poverty Reduction

24. where to find us
1familyireland
OneFamilyIreland